Key data
| Regulation | Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/699 — CELEX:32026R0699 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 3 June 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified in the published text |
| Affected parties | Independent workshops, vehicle manufacturers and diagnostic tool providers |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Amended regulation | Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council |
Independent workshops throughout the EU gain strengthened rights to access diagnostic data from vehicles they repair. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/699, published on 3 June 2026, amends Regulation (EU) 2018/858 to end the advantage that official manufacturer networks have had over independent operators in accessing vehicle technical information.
This is not just a technical matter: it is a structural change in the automotive aftermarket that affects the competitiveness of thousands of workshops, the product strategy of manufacturers and the business model of diagnostic tool providers.
What does this regulation establish?
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/699 introduces three specific blocks of changes to Regulation (EU) 2018/858:
| Scope | Previous situation (Regulation EU 2018/858) | New situation (Regulation EU 2026/699) |
|---|---|---|
| OBD data access | More restricted access for independent operators compared to manufacturer official networks | Equal access for independent operators and official networks |
| Exchange standards | No mandatory standardized standards for technical information exchange | Mandatory standardized standards for technical information exchange between manufacturers and operators |
| Secure access | No specific technical requirements for secure access to OBD information | Technical requirements and secure access procedures for OBD information defined and mandatory |
The stated objective is to promote competition in the automotive aftermarket, ensuring that any independent workshop can access the same technical information as dealerships and official manufacturer workshops.
Economic and operational impact
The impact varies significantly depending on the type of company affected:
- Independent workshops: Access diagnostic information that was previously reserved for official networks. This expands their ability to repair modern vehicles with complex electronic systems, which can translate into higher billing and customer retention.
- Vehicle manufacturers: Required to open their technical information systems and implement new standardized standards and secure access procedures. It involves investment in adapting platforms and internal processes.
- Diagnostic tool providers: Must adapt their products to new standardized information exchange standards. Those who do so first will have a competitive advantage in an opening market.
The regulation does not specify investment amounts or specific penalties in the published text. However, the cost of non-compliance includes the risk of regulatory non-compliance with EU vehicle homologation regulations, which have direct consequences for vehicle marketing in the European market.
Who does it affect?
- Independent repair and maintenance workshops in any EU Member State
- Vehicle manufacturers marketing in the European market (required to open access and comply with new standards)
- Diagnostic tool providers developing or marketing OBD equipment for the aftermarket
- Official distribution networks and dealerships, which will see their advantage in accessing exclusive technical information reduced
- Technical information platform operators acting as intermediaries between manufacturers and workshops
Practical example
An independent workshop in Madrid receives a latest-generation vehicle with a fault in the engine management system. Until now, without access to the manufacturer's complete OBD data, the workshop had two options: refer the vehicle to an official workshop or work with incomplete information, assuming the risk of incorrect diagnosis.
With Regulation (EU) 2026/699 in force, that same workshop has the right to access the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system information under the same conditions as the brand's official dealership. To do so, it must use diagnostic tools adapted to the new standardized standards established by the regulation and follow the secure access procedures defined.
The diagnostic tool provider used by that workshop, for its part, will have had to update its product to comply with the new technical requirements of the regulation. Workshops that do not update their tools or do not comply with secure access procedures will not be able to benefit from the new equal access framework.
What should companies do now?
- Independent workshops: review your diagnostic tools. Check whether current OBD equipment is compatible with new standardized standards. Contact the provider to confirm the update roadmap.
- Vehicle manufacturers: audit technical information access systems. Identify which OBD data is currently shared only with official networks and what technical and process changes are required to open access to independent operators under new standards.
- Diagnostic tool providers: begin adaptation to new standards. Analyze the technical requirements of Regulation (EU) 2026/699 and plan necessary product updates to maintain marketing in the European market.
- All affected parties: monitor the entry into force date. The regulation does not specify the application date in the published text. It is critical to follow the EU Official Journal to identify transposition and compliance deadlines.
- Consult specialized advice on homologation and competition law. Opening access to OBD data has implications in both vehicle homologation regulations and competition law in the aftermarket.
Frequently asked questions
What is OBD data access and why does it change with this regulation?
The on-board diagnostic system (OBD) is the set of electronic data generated by a vehicle about its operation. Until now, manufacturers provided this access mainly to their official networks. Regulation (EU) 2026/699 requires that independent operators—workshops, tool providers—access that information on equal terms, with standardized standards and defined secure access procedures.
What regulation does Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/699 amend?
It amends Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which is the framework regulation for motor vehicle homologation in the EU. The changes focus on technical requirements for accessing OBD information and procedures for secure access to that information.
When does Regulation (EU) 2026/699 enter into force?
The entry into force date is not specified in the text published on 3 June 2026. It is essential to follow the Official Journal of the European Union to know the exact application deadlines and any transition periods.
What must diagnostic tool providers do to comply?
They must adapt their products to the new standardized technical information exchange standards established by Regulation (EU) 2026/699. This involves reviewing communication protocols with vehicle OBD systems and ensuring that their tools meet the secure access requirements defined in the regulation.
Does this regulation affect only workshops in Spain or throughout the EU?
It affects all independent operators, vehicle manufacturers and diagnostic tool providers throughout the European Union. As it is an EU Delegated Regulation, it applies directly in all Member States without the need for national transposition.
Official source
Consult full regulation at official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026R0699